One of the most popular Caribbean destinations, French St. Martin shares this easily-accessible island with Dutch St. Maarten. Here, less than 1250 miles from Miami, travelers discover rolling hills, exceptional beaches, celebrated restaurants, duty-free shopping, interesting historical sites, casinos and colorful markets. A full complement of land and water activities as well as excursions to nearby St. Barth are easily arranged.

THE BASICS
Situated at the northern point of the Guadeloupe Archipelago, the island is 140 miles northwest of Guadeloupe and 144 miles east of Puerto Rico. The total land area is 37 square miles (the northern half, St. Martin, is 21 sq. miles; the southern half, Sint Maarten, is 16 sq. miles). The population on the French side is approximately 35,000. On the Dutch side, it is approximately 35,000. The capital city of St. Martin is Marigot.

CLIMATE / WHEN TO GO
The most common misconception about the French West Indies is that it must be much hotter in summer than it is during the rest of the year. In fact, the average monthly temperatures remain remarkably stable, varying by only about 5 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. This stability can be attributed to the tradewinds (Les Alizés) which bring refreshing breezes from the Northeast throughout the year, tempering the tropical heat. Summer is actually a great time to visit the islands because lodging rates are much lower and the beaches, roads and restaurants are never crowded. Of course, winter and the Christmas/New Year holidays are traditionally the most popular time to go. Most holiday reservations are made many months in advance.

December through May is considered the dry season while June through November is considered the more humid season. However, in our experience, rainshowers or clear skies can occur at any time during the year. In general, rainstorms pass quickly and you should have sunshine on most days. Average air temperatures in coastal areas range from 72º to 86º F. The warm coastal water temperatures stay between 68º and 74º F.

Hurricanes may occur from any time from June through November and, historically, the most likely time is during early September. Every year brings more sophisticated storm warning systems. It is unusual for any one island to be severely affected more than once or twice every 10 years and your actual odds of experiencing a hurricane are very low. Some travelers purchase trip cancellation insurance in advance of travel.

BEACHES
By official count, the entire island has 36 perfect white sand beaches, though there probably are more, ranging from secluded coastal crescents to broad expanses of untouched sand. Beaches are seldom very crowded, even in peak season, and all are easily reached by little roads off the highway. A tour of French St. Martin's better known beaches, from west to east: 1) Baie Longue, the largest beach, pretty and isolated; 2) Plum Bay, reachable by walking west around Pointe du Canonnier, is small and shady and offers good surfing close to the rocks; 3) Baie Rouge is considered a really beautiful stretch of sand and boasts some nice dive spots; 4) Nettlé Baie stretches between Pierres a Chaux Point and Sandy Ground Bridge right to Marigot Bay, with many access points from the seaside hotels, quite a few watersports and dive operations; 5) Friar's Bay, pretty, very protected, and popular with divers attracted by the beauty of its coral reef; 6) Grand Case, a magnificent arc of crystal-clear water and white sand, calm for swimming and snorkeling, great beachfront restaurants; 7) Anse Marcel, calm and quiet, nicely shady, great for kids; 8) Petites Cayes, the most isolated beach of St. Martin, with access by boat or a 20-minute walk on a coastal trail from Cul de Sac; 9) Grandes Cayes, not really a beach, rather a great dive and surfing site; 10) Cul de Sac is a scenic beach, with fishermen shuttling back and forth to Pinel Island and Tintamarre; 11) Orient Beach, most popular and clothing-optional, busy with dining spots, beach shops, watersports; 12) Baie de l'Embouchure, protected by a coral barrier, it's nice for sailing and wind-surfing; 13) Baie Lucas, good diving from the shady beach.

UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS
The towns on the French side have a beguiling West Indian charm combined with certain distinct touches of France: open markets that are typically Caribbean, bakeries that are typically French, and seaside cafes that seem to have been transplanted intact from some tiny French Riviera town .

The capital of Marigot is no longer the sleepy little fishing village it once was. It has awakened to tourism, sprucing up its lovely old houses, building new restaurants, shops, boat slips, marinas, a waterfront promenade, a handsome new market place, and a pier for yachts.

The terrain of St. Martin is a pastoral green, rather than the very lush tropical green found elsewhere in the Caribbean. There is a mountain in the north called Paradise Peak (Pic du Paradis) which rises to 1,391 ft. and there are many forested heights in the center of the island, but most of St. Martin is rolling hills and hillocks. The coastline is set with deep coves and bays, and there are about 36 beautiful beaches encircling the island. The waters are unusually clear, and snorkelers can spot brilliantly colored fish at 30 feet.

BRIEF HISTORY
The French and Dutch nationalities have coexisted happily in St. Martin for three centuries. According to legend, the boundaries were established in a walking contest in 1648 in which a Frenchman paced off a giant share of the island. Columbus had discovered and named St. Martin in 1493, and in the 1630's the French and Dutch both settled on the island. In the early days the island was a pirates' haven; they found the coves and bays to be good hiding places. It was in St. Martin that Peter Stuyvesant (the last Dutch governor of New York) lost his leg in a struggle with the Spanish in 1640. In 1946, Guadeloupe, of which St. Martin is a dependency, became an Overseas Department of France, and in 1974, an Overseas Region of France.

GOVERNMENT
St. Martin is half French and half Dutch, but there are no customs formalities between the two halves. The boundary is marked simply by two "welcome'' signs on each side of an obelisk that serves as the Border Monument. One says "Bienvenue en Partie Française" and the other says "Welcome to Dutch Sint Maarten, N.A.". The French "half" is a sub-prefecture of Guadeloupe. A town council is elected by the people and headed by a mayor; a sub-prefect is appointed by the French Government.